Symbiotic

author’s note:

I never lose my empathy.  But sometimes I manage to ignore it.


SYMBIOTIC

When you see me, you see my wounds
then feel my wounds.

then try to soothe my wounds.

I know I’m the only one who can heal those wounds.
I’m not done trying.
But the long tedium of the work tires me.

So I go to see you.

This deep diver needs to breathe
at least once week—needs
the relaxing empathy of our Sundays.

But I’d just stay home and watch the game
if I didn’t know
I soothe your deep wounds too.

mythsteps · Symbiotic

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© 2024, Michael R. Patton

How Beauty Came from Pain

author's note:

It is apparently more important to nature that one should have consciousness, understanding, than to avoid suffering.
            -- C.G. Jung


HOW BEAUTY CAME FROM PAIN

In the dream
beauty came from pain

as I watched you
embrace the tree--
a lover finding the lover
who knows her need:

to be healed
so she could heal others
in pain.

A symbiotic relationship
working by osmosis:

as you healed yourself
with the tree’s love
you fed the tree with your love

and so your eyes gleamed
on one of its emerald leaves

but many eyes appeared on the leaves above

next time
I hope to see mine

so I've renewed my vow
to open and embrace

despite the slow pain of surrender...

© 2018, Michael R. Patton
finding Beauty: poetry ebook